JR/Kl June 2018 Dear Applicant Teacher of English Thank You For
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JR/kl June 2018 Dear Applicant Teacher of English Thank you for your enquiry about the post of Teacher of English at Bottisham Village College. I hope that this pack gives you all the information that you need at this stage and that we can look forward to your application. If you would like to know more about what a great place this is work, and to explore your development opportunities, please visit our website http://www.bottishamvc.org/college- information/teaching-at-bottisham/ The closing date for all applications is noon, Friday 20 July 2018. Please send your completed application form, together with a letter of application to Katy Limmer (HR Officer) [email protected]. Yours sincerely Mrs Jenny Rankine Principal Information for applicants Bottisham Village College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment An Anglian Learning School BOTTISHAM VILLAGE COLLEGE About Us Bottisham Village College is a very successful comprehensive school, with over 1135 students from our local community. We became an Academy in April 2011. We are committed to providing an outstanding education to all of our students, enabling them to develop into mature, independent young people, ready to take their place in society. We have extremely high expectations and work with commitment and dedication to enable all students to have the opportunity to achieve their full potential, both academically and socially. The school community values all our staff, students, parents and carers and their contribution to our successes and achievements. The College was opened in 1937 as the second of the Cambridgeshire Village Colleges. These were the forerunners of community education in this country and are still committed to lifelong learning in its widest sense. The vision of their founder, Henry Morris, was that schools should be at the heart of their communities, open to all and that they should offer an attractive and stimulating environment for learning. Bottisham Village College continues to aspire to this vision. Bottisham is 5 miles East of Cambridge, just off the A14 trunk road. The Village College is a seven form-entry mixed 11-16 comprehensive school and serves twenty one villages in the area bordering Cambridge and east to Newmarket. The school is heavily oversubscribed, and the local authority manages a waiting list each year. In the Autumn term, following a period of consultation we established the Bottisham Multi Academy Trust (BMAT), with Bottisham Village College as the founding academy, with The Netherhall School, Cambridge joining as a sponsored academy in February 2016. Subsequently we joined with Bassingbourn Village College and Sawston Village College from 1 September 2016 to form Anglian Learning; we are very excited at the increased opportunities for collaboration and career development that this new development will bring. Ofsted Our most recent Ofsted inspection took place in June 2012, when we were judged to be outstanding in all areas: Overall Effectiveness, Achievement, Quality of Teaching, Behaviour & safety and Leadership and Management. We are very proud of this achievement which was the culmination of the talents, dedication and enthusiasm of all our staff. We were particularly pleased that Ofsted commented on the positive relationships that underpin our ethos: This is an outstanding college, where a very strong ethos of community, high quality learning and aspirational academic achievement exists throughout. One student commented: ‘Bottisham is inspirational. The college helps individuals to shape well, giving us the confidence, determination and skills to succeed.’ Ofsted 2012 Post 16, students have a very wide choice of educational opportunities in and around Cambridge. The overwhelming majority of our students, approximately 97% continue in full- time education. In the summer of 2017 we once again achieved fantastic GCSE results: 70% of students gained five- A*-C grades including English and Maths 48% of PP students gained a pass at both English and Maths GCSE 74% of students gained an English and Maths GCSE pass 26% A- A*grades 37% students gained their EBacc qualification. Anglian Gateway Teaching School Alliance The Teaching School initiative began in 2011, marking a very significant shift towards school-centred training and development. Following our successful Ofsted inspection in June 2012, we have successfully applied to be a National Teaching School and National Support School. In partnership with two outstanding local primary schools, we have formed the Anglian Gateway Teaching School Alliance. This alliance consists of a large group of cross-phase schools in Cambridgeshire & Suffolk, together with a range of other highly regarded organisations: University of Cambridge, Faculty of Education Eastern Leadership Centre Cambridgeshire County Council Suffolk County Council As a Teaching School we have the freedom and autonomy to work collaboratively with our partners to deliver high quality support for teachers and leaders at all stages in their career. We are involved in the following areas: providing a strong supply of high quality new teachers through the development of school-based initial teacher training programmes providing high quality continuing professional development programmes that significantly improve the quality of serving teachers and support staff developing great leaders and the next generation of headteachers working with schools in need of additional support We are very excited about the professional and leadership development opportunities that this designation offers to our staff. For example, a growing number of colleagues have the opportunity to be directly involved in the training of new teachers, others are working as Specialist Leaders of Education, sharing their expertise by supporting staff in other schools. Bottisham Education Partnership The Bottisham Education Partnership was established in September 2010 with the aim of utilising the skills and experiences of a range of local organisations to help us to meet our core responsibilities and priorities, as summarised in the Every Child Matters agenda. Our seven external partners are all committed to getting involved in the day to day life of the college. They are: Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS Trust Cambridge Building Society Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge John Lewis The Marshall Group of Companies The National Stud Red 2 Green All partners have made a commitment to get actively involved in the life of the college by bringing their knowledge and expertise to enhance and complement our college curriculum. Each year, partners are involved in a wide range of activities, many during Personal Social & Health Education collapsed days. For example, our Year 10s, who all undertake two weeks of work experience, were well prepared when John Lewis and Cambridge Building Society joined together to give the students the opportunity to complete ‘live’ application forms. The companies then delivered workshop sessions where the students were given feedback on their applications and were able to practice interview techniques. The Cambridge and Peterborough Health Trust have helped us explore the range of mental health issues that can affect teenagers. They also shared strategies for dealing with stress and anxiety. The Red2Green charity, which cares for adults with learning difficulties, has a base on our site. We have worked with them closely, supporting the charity by fund raising and they have spoken to our students about diversity and difference so that our students understand how we can all work together in society. All of this work is helping our students to understand the range of skills, qualities and attributes that they need to develop to be able to be successful in the workplace. Our Staff We recognise and value the skills, knowledge and expertise of all our staff. We are committed to supporting the professional development of all members of staff. To this end, we have a vibrant and varied Continual Professional Development programme, which is personalised each year to support both our main college priorities and the individual needs of staff. This programme includes opportunities to share excellent practice between colleagues as well as drawing on external expertise. Bottisham is a member of a SUPER ( School University Partnership in Educational Research) network of schools working with the University of Cambridge, Faculty of Education which provides opportunities for staff to undertake classroom-based action research. In addition, as part of this programme, each year a number of colleagues embark on a Masters degree. Our staff-room is a vibrant, sociable and supportive atmosphere. We enjoy College events such as concerts or staff socials; there is very little ‘standing on ceremony’. Staff give freely of their time to the broad extra-curricular programme which includes sports, music, drama and a host of trips, exchanges, clubs and other activities. There is a blend of youth and experience among the staff and newcomers have always commented on the warm welcome they have received. College Leadership Team Mrs J Rankine Principal Mr E Compton Deputy Principal Mr D Griffiths Deputy Principal Mr A Gee Assistant Principal Mr M Merry Assistant Principal Mr D Fullman Assistant Principal Our Students Our catchment area is one of rich contrasts: areas of social deprivation on the fringes of Cambridge, rural communities,